Army to end Stop Loss and pay retroactive Stop Loss special pay

02/19/2010 |

The Army will phase out “stop-loss” which mandates that Soldiers remain in the military beyond their service obligation by March, 2011. Army Reserve units mobilized after 1 August 2009 are no longer subject to stop loss policy. The Army National Guard ceased stop loss policy on 1 September 2009.

Stop- Loss began with an executive order in 1990, and gave the defense secretary authority to hold on to or bring back from retirement military personnel deemed essential to U.S. national security. The Army used stop-loss during the Persian Gulf War and after the 9-11 Attacks. Although stop-loss has been a vital tool to maintain continuity in leadership and cohesion within units that trained for and then deployed to war, the policy has long been perceived as a “back-door draft.”

All Soldiers, to include, former, retired, and survivors whose military service was involuntarily extended under stop-loss between September 11, 2001 and September 30, 2008 are eligible to apply for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay (RSLSP). RSLSP will be paid at $500 per month for each month or partial month a service member was retained on active duty beyond their:

• Contractual Expiration of Term of Service (ETS)

• Approved request for transfer to the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR)

• Approved retirement based on length of service.

• Approved resignation for Officers serving beyond their Military Service Obligation.

• Each Soldier, retiree or survivor electing to file a claim will need to provide the following support documents with their claim:

Enlisted Soldiers:

• DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty and/or DD Form 215.

• DD Form 4, Enlistment/Reenlistment Contract

• DA Form 4836, Extension Contract

• DA Form 4651-R (Request for Reserve Component Assignment or Transfer) requesting transfer to the IRR, if applicable.

• Memorandum showing approved retirement was suspended or denied.

Officers:

• DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty and/or DD Form 215.